Collapsible box.



H.A A. FARNQUIST. QOLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED MAY14.1915.

1,218,846. Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

HERBERT A. FARNQUIST, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

COLLAIE'SIBLE BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed May 14, 1915. Serial No. 28,036.

of my invention to" provide such a box of simple and substantial construction, and especially to provide a. simple and eflective means of holding the members of thebottoms and sides together and hinging these members one to the other' so as to prevent fwarping or swelling due to moisture and render the device less subject to breakage in case it is stepped on or otherewise subjected to rough usage.

In carrying out my invention 1- form the side members of the box of top and bottom strips havingfacing grooves and oftransversely-positioned strips having tongued ends fitting in the facing grooves, with binder strips preferably of metal extending along the sides of the transverse strips and over the ends of the top and bottom strips. The binding` strips are preferably formed of metal and are also usedto provide the) corner hinges for the box.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating the application of my invention in one form,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box opened. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the box closed. Fig. 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the box opened, showing the hinge and supports for the bottom, and taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. -1 is a fragmental seetional view similar to Fig. 3 showing the same parts when in a closed or collapsed condition and is taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmental view of the corner of the box containing the hinge and shows part of the side removed to indicate the construction of the bottom and supports. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a part of the bottom showing the method ofconstruction of the same.

and a bottom, the sides being hinged to the ends at the points 10 and the bottom being vhinged to one of the sides atthe points 11,

thus permitting the box to be collapsed, as bestshown -in Fig. 2.

r1`he sides and ends are composed of horizontal pieces 12 and vertical'pieces 13 and 21. The whole `is held together by means of the V grooves and corners 14 and the hinge straps15, 16 and 17. There are three forms of hinge straps, the ends being held together' by the straps 15. Straps 15 are made of one narrow, continuous piece of metal. They are fastened to the edges of the end members of the box by wires 1S passing completely through the outer vertical sections 21 and'clenched at both ends, as shown at 19. They are bent to fit the corners 23 of the horizontal pieces 12, with a jog to make the top of the box flush when the other element of the hinge is attached. Then the ends or sides of the box are to be assembled the outer vertical pieces 21, having the straps 15, 16 and 17 previously attached to them by the clenched wires 18, together with the horizontal pieces 12 are made to surround the pieces 13. Pieces 21 are rigidly held by pieces 12 by screws 22 and 10, screws 10 serving as axis for the end and side hinges. Pieces 13 are now rigidly held to the surrounding outer pieces 12 and 21 by the V grooves and corners 14.

The other two forms of hinge straps 16 and 17 are attached to the pieces 21 of the l side elements of the box in an identical manner with the hinge straps 15. one of each ,kinde for each side. Strap17l'is similar to k15 in that it is bent to fit the corner 24 of pieces 29 having transverse slots 30 in the ends, said slots extending across the entire end. The pieces 29 are held together by a metal bar 31 passing through and fitting in the lslots 30, the whole being firmly united by nails 32 passing through both parts of the pieces 29 and the bar 3l and clenched on the under side. rlhe bottom is hinged to one of the sides as follows: The element of the hinge embodied in the side of the box consists of a circular hole 33 cut inthe side of the box and a long nail 8l passing diametrically through the center of the hole and serving at the same time as a substitute for one of the screws The other element of the hinge embodied in the bottom consists of a staple 35 driven in to the edge of the bottom bent upivard at an angle of fortyfive degrees with the surface of the bottom and surrounding nail Bl. The tivo extreme portions of the bottom are clearly shown in Figs. 3, fland The bottom 29 rests on the strips 3G so that its hinges sufl'er no strain. r)These strips 36 are fastened to the ends of the box by nails 3-7, which are clenched on the inside.

The top and bottom edges of the sides and ends of the box are perfectly flush with the exception of the staples 3S, which staples in conjunction with the notches 3f) of'other bexes serve as guides to direct and maintain these b-oxes directly over eachother ivhen they are so desired, thus keeping them in place during transportation. rThe handling of the box is facilitated by the holes 40, which provide handles by which the boxes can be lifted.

I claim:

l. A box having end and side Walls each formed vvith horizontal top and bottom strips and vertical panel members held by said top and bottom strips, and a metal binding strap secured to the edge of the outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips.

2. A box having end and side Walls each formed With horizontal top and bottom strips and vertical panel members held by said top and bottom strips, and a metal binding strip secured to each of the edges of the outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips, adjacent members of said binding strips being provided at the top and bottom with cooperating portions hingedly uniting the ends to the sides at the cerners of the box.

3. A box having end and side Walls each formeel with horizontal top and bottom strips and vertical panel members held by said top and bottom strips, and a metal binding strip secured to the edges of the outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips, some of said binding strips having extensions transverse to the plane thereof and others extensions in the plane thereof overlying and hingedly connected ivith the binding strips of the adjacent end or side member so that the ends and sides are hingedly connected by the corners.

t. A box having end and side walls each formed with horizontal top and bot-toni strips, a plurality of vertical panel inembers7 said panel members being formed with facing grooves along the ends ther-eef and the top and bottom strips with tongues insertible in said grooves for holding the panel members from lateral movement, and metal binding strips secured to the edges of the outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips for securing the parts together.

5. A box having end and side walls each formed with horizontal top and bottoni strips and a plurality of vertical panel menibers, said panel members being provided With symmetrically formed a -shaped facing grooves along the ends thereof and the top and bottom strips with corresponding tfshaped tongues insertible in said grooves for holding the panel members from lateral movement, and metal binding strips secured to the edges of the. outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips for securing the parts together.

6. A box having end and side ivalls each formed With horizontal top and bottom strips and a plurality of vertical panel meinbers, and metal binding strips secured to the edges of the outside vertical strips and to the ends of the top and bottom strips, said binding members being bent over the top and bottom corners of the horizontal strips and secured to the top and bottom edges to rigidly hold the parts together.

ln testimony ivhereof l ailix my signature in presence or tivo Witnesses.

HERBERT A. FARNQUIST.

lllitnesses H. A. Boivin/ix, A. M. ROYAL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID` C. 

